WEST UKRAINIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

 A festive meeting of first-year students – the young patriotic elite of our country – took place at the Knowledge Square of the West Ukrainian National University. Knowledge Day is not just the beginning of autumn. It is the start of a new, exciting and inspiring stage in students' lives, a time for the birth of hopes and great aspirations.

The traditional academic community's banner, the university flag, was brought in to symbolically mark the start of the celebration. After that, everyone gave a big round of applause to the rector, vice-rectors, deans, and special guests. The honorary right to carry the State Flag was given to students of the Reserve Officers Training Centre and Basic Military Training Centre of the West Ukrainian National University. The Ukrainian national anthem rang out across the square, bringinging those present a sense of love for their native land and faith in its bright future. With a heavy heart, a moment of silence was observed to honour the memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine, among whom are our students and graduates.

The rector of the university, Oksana Desyatnyuk, addressed the audience: "Knowledge Day is always a new beginning, the start of an exciting life for a large group of first-year students who are opening the doors of the university today. You are young, determined, inspired young people who have chosen to live and study in Ukraine. This demonstrates your love for your homeland and your belief in victory."

In his address to first-year students, Taras Pastukh, Deputy Head of the Ternopil Regional State Administration, said: "Dear students! Every day we live is very precious. That is why the hours you spend at university are incredibly important. Approach your studies with determination and be grateful to every soldier who is defending our country today. Remember, at this very moment, someone is giving their life for Ukraine, someone is fighting illness, someone is being tortured... I sincerely wish you that all your years of study at the West Ukrainian National University will be rich , and that you will become the pride of the university staff."

The event was made particularly interesting by symbolic gifts from senior students to first-year students. Students from the B. Havrylyshyn Education and Research Institute of International Relations presented a map of the world, students from the Faculty of Law presented the goddess of justice, Themis, and senior students from the Faculty of Computer Information Technologies presented a quadcopter – a symbol of modern technology, precision and new opportunities.

Representatives of the clergy blessed the students to have a good start to their educational journey.

The celebration ended on a musical note with songs performed by the university's creative team.

Dear students! Today you are beginning your student journey in a centre of free thought, unity, knowledge, and new opportunities. May new horizons open up before you, helping you to reveal your abilities and leading to personal development and growth.